All:

Not looking to buy anything but has anybody here bought, or know somebody that "actually" bought anything from this person? If so, what was the experience? Anyone know who this person is? Do these guns exist? Lol...

For as much as he is on auction sites, you would think that there would be more about him out there as a seller.

Take care,
RAS

Do you mean Wildwood in China, ME?

If so, I wouldn't consider buying anything from them unless I could hold it in my own hands and inspect it in person before reaching for my wallet. I have never bought anything from them, but saw their stuff at gun shows and visited their shop when I lived in New England. They may be the most reputable of dealers today, but back then the grading was universally high and the descriptions were vague to the point of overlooking flaws that a blind man could see.

My friend, Bearrr264, and I drove from Boston to China, Me, to look at a Winchester 54 in 250-3000 that had been advertised as being both original and minty. When we got there, the rifle was neither original or minty. It had been d&t for both side and top mounts, probably 8 extra holes. The bolt handle and safety had been modified to clear a scope and there was a recoil pad installed. The only way that it could have been minty is if somebody wiped it down with SCOPE mouthwash. When Bearrr264 pointed out that the rifle wasn't quite as advertised, he was told something like "It is in the original condition that we received it.". Disingenuous? You decide.

Caveat Emptor!

SCOPE mouthwash, that is funny!

I live just down the road from wildwoods. they have been in business for many years. they stand by everything they sell 100%
and yes I'm sure sometimes mistakes are made. they do a large volume of their business on the internet these days like many other shops do. I've bought many rifles from them over the years and so have many of my friends and coworkers.

plab

I bought a 30-30TD, 1899-SRA about 5 years ago from this seller on Guns Amer. Everything was exactly as advertised. Had it lettered by JTC and everything matched. However, I really bargained with them to get the price reduced as their prices seem to be quite a bit higher. This gun had been listed for almost a year and I guess they were willing to budge some...JMHO

They advertised for years in the print version of gun digest. Their prices on 99's were sky high. I called once about a 99 I really wanted. They said they didn't have any room to negotiate. The price they were asking was about 50% too high. I found a comparable gun (same model and condition) for about 60-65% of what they were asking. Most of the rifles including the one I wanted had been on there for years. I am seeing many of these 99's on Gunsinternational now. I'm not sure they really want to sell their guns.

Majority of what I see them list are wrong guns listed at collector + 50% prices.

Have skipped over their listings for years, wouldn't buy from them even if it looked like a screaming deal. Don't trust them, definitely get the feeling they are looking for the fools that Barnum missed.

I had never heard of them before now. They've sure got a bunch of Savages including an 1895 carbine. If their descriptions are anywhere near accurate it must be like a museum.
yooper

I doubt they ever sell many guns judging from their prices.

I was waiting for you to weigh in. I knew it would be well animated.

They actually have one listed I would like to have.

But the price is way out of line, crappy pictures and nobody will return my emails. Some of those 99's have been listed for years.

They are pretty proud of them.

In buisness you can sell a lot for a little or a little for a lot. I think their philosophy is the later.

Here this group goes if I can't steal it I will not buy it but when I sell it it is the best in the world for all the money and Five dollars more!!

So true

plab

Ras
I have Dealt With Wildwood On Several Items Over the Years.
I ALways Got a Fair Deal With Them, And Nice Folks in My Opinion to Deal With, Years Ago They Were Known as DICk and CRAIG in Shot Gun News etc - This Is Going Back 15 to Plus Years Back Now.


They Have a Set Mind as to what they Want to Sell For, They or Me Or any-one Else May Not Sell for what You Want to Get.
But as I said, I have dealt with them, and pretty easy going to talk to and and bicker around on a Price.


J.M.O.

Buy low, sell high?

Maybe we should link to some of their rifles and see how they stand up. Truthfully I haven't looked at any of their listings in at least 5 years. First one I looked at tonight was a 250-3000 with what looks like a busted stock and gray receiver for the asking price of $1450, can't say that has changed my opinion.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/SA...6f74-DB220544-90B1-1C33-4613C6B841255AEC

Second one is a 99H (actually 1899H) in 303 with pitting on the barrel and receiver for the price of $1495. Opinion still not changed.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/SAVAGE-99H-FEATHER-WEIGHT-303-SAVAGE.cfm?gun_id=100533520

Third is another 1899H in 303 with refinished barrel for $895. Don't think I'd be interested in that one either, but it's the best so far.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/SAVAGE-1899H-FEATHER-WEIGHT-303.cfm?gun_id=100528659

A guy can't buy every rifle, so I don't see how anybody can be faulted for watching for good deals. Personally I don't care what someone else pays for a gun, none of my business. Don't fault someone for trying to get top dollar on a sale, or for letting one go low for what he has in it. I'm thrilled if they find something they wanted for a price they are happy with.

And I don't think what WE say on this forum has squat to do with market prices: gunbroker and RIAA and Julia prices dictate that in my opinion. Heck, when I go to gunshops now they search gunbroker in front of me to find values.

As to Wildwood, maybe if a guy was close enough to stop by and lay hands on the guns you could pick up some reasonable deals. I know Cabelas prices run high, but I've got some very decent guns from them because I was able to stop by every other day and watch for new arrivals. And I let some of them go to friends for less than market price... Wonder what Wildwood offers for the guns it sells? Might be a good place to sell.

Doug, if you think there prices are inline for their offerings, I have a lot of rifles that I would like to sell you. Please drop me a note as I have many 99s that far exceed their listings in terms or rarity and condition and bet my prices would be extremely fair by comparison.

You've noticed?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! None of it REALLY applies to me, cause once I own it, it normally doesn't go anywhere. When I buy a rifle I often tell the seller that and also offer to the seller that if I EVER do decide to sell it he has the option buy it back. Wildwood had two rifles at the Manchester NH show that really caught my eye. 1899 B AND 1899C. BOTH short barreled and both "looked" correct. You know me, Mr. Procrastinator. The next show they were gone, as well as several other Savages they had for sale. A fellow was toting around a very nice pre-mil F in .300. Only flaw was someone scratched "Bud" on the lever hinge. He wanted $650. I heard them offer him $500. I thought that was a fair price. It's very different dealing with someone on the internet versus face to face.

THrow Them Up DREW, And Let's See what Happens.
FRANKLY I Don't Understand When who, ask something for what "it may be worth to to some" one bashing others prices

I Look at it you have 2 choices Either You Can Buy it, , or Dicker with one, 2nd or walk away.


You Don't See MARLIN or WINCHESTER Guys Bashing Prices, and I see Rats as to what i think may be a rat that i would not give 50.00 dollars for sell for hundreds or thousands.

My Point Being Any-one is entitled to ask what they feel it can sell for! And either there's Some body willing to pay for it or walk away.



My other point is, Savage Prices have seem to drop, and not because of solely the Economy.DOUBT IT. But this Group has a Big Influence in the market, being right or wrong, and if you don't thinks so, check again, as to some listings, there are people now dating guns, because of this group, and some are not even members, there are some base prices from years back, because of this group. YEARs BACK BEFORE the Net, You Go to a SHOW, and EVER-one Whom was selling was comparing Prices to Dick & CRAIG "Wildwwod" as we know it today

I Often wonder as to why a man may take a rifle, clean it up make it look nice, and say he paid 300.00 for it and wants to sell it for 350.00? OH ,OH,Oh, thats a no,no he just f'd it up,
But Turn-Ball, or Griffen and Howe,etc , oh how nice,and sell for stupid money, who are they to command that kind of money and why is it o.k. not to bash that? I don;t understand and never will. J.M.2cents!

It's all about desire, If you want it, you will find a way to obtain it, whether your willing to pay for the asking, or keep dickering to come to some happy medium to the seller as well as the buyer.


I could't afford some of the rare engraved Rifles of Savage,
that have been for sale in the past for thousand and thousands as what some of them sold for 15K plus, so i deceided i wanted some badly, i took up my own work, to adore and pay homage to some of the great works Savage had. Are they Worth 15K plus, no,
But I sure If'in Turn-Ball did a RESTORATION it would sell.

FUG, you are 100% correct.

This thread is getting funny!

The OP asked for opinions and he got both positive and negative feedback, exactly what you would expect from a diverse group of responders. It seems that guys who are geographically closer to the seller, those who can visit the shop and have the opportunity to inspect a unit before deciding to buy it, are more positive than the guys who can't personally inspect the unit. Nobody has posted a horror story about buying a unit based on a description and upon receipt found that it was far out of sync with the description provided.

It seems to me that anytime you buy a firearm via the internet, you are betting on the integrity of the seller, even if he/she has a return policy, and more and more sellers are going to an "all sales final/no returns" policy. Many people complain about eBay, say what you want, but if you buy something on eBay and have a problem with the item or with the seller, eBay's customer service will help you get a resolution.

As for me, I stand by my original comment, that I wouldn't buy from Wildwood unless I could physically inspect the item in question before making a purchase decision. Maybe it isn't fair for me to judge Wildwood based on one negative interaction, but it is the only interaction that I've had with them and it was decidedly negative.

I really l-o-v-e this site. It's one of my favorites 'cause there's so few opinions and most here just won't speak their minds :)) Keep up the good work!!

Nah, if this group had any affect on prices then we'd have seen entire tables full of $150 99's from when Lauren used to post on here frequently.

Some people have the luxury of being able to pay more for a rifle than they can sell it for just because they want it.

I don't.

Agreed

How could it possibly? We can't even agree.

I don't have any agenda. Nothing to gain or lose by reporting what I see guns trading for. I've got some I paid to much for and some that were good investments. It is what it is.

Once you get to the stage in this addiction where you know what you're looking at, you know you want it, you know how hard it will be to find another, you better buy it no matter how many widgets or how much overtime you have to work to pay for it.

Otherwise, you lay in bed at night thinking, "Man, I wish I had". I'm looking at one right now for $900+ that I know I should buy but tax season screws up my buying. Happens every year.

Oh well, at least I know several people on the dole can continue to buy their cigarettes and booze because of my sacrifice.

He is still a regular poster,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just not Lauren anymore.

Well, who da heck is he now?

I don't believe it...

First 22HP that was posted and he'd be unable to restrain himself.

WEll If I'd Wager a GUESS it BE 99308F

He must be one tough sumbitch to shoot one of those. even Joe won't go there.

Not that difficult to shoot one of those.....

If you have ever shot a TC Contender with a 16.5" tapered lightweight 45-70 barrel, you would think the 308F is a 22-250. It is even worse out of a handgun setup. Just don't ask me how I know that.

Yeah but Joe said...

OK......

Don't bring me into this thread, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the show.

And biting my tongue really hard.

Copper pot....copper pot. Sit down and have one or two and enjoy.

I'm just funnin ya ol buddy. Good job on the tongue biting. You do know you're fun to fun right?

Okay... who is this, and what did you do with the real mad_dog?

Oh ya, I know.

This isn't the first time we've talked about Wildwood and have always laughed at their prices for years now, it's just interesting that all of a sudden there's a disagreement among the forum on them now.

No need for me to get into this because I'm from Canada and couldn't buy a gun from them even if I wanted to.

Loving this whole conversation. Sitting back, sipping Scotch and LMAO. Kinda like when I go the the monthly WAC gunshow. Every time I go these days I see guns that have been for sale for 20 years or more. Most of them are on dealer's tables. Never could understand why a dealer would want to have a show only table.

I do find it interesting that so many gun stores find a rat 99 and put it up for sale for $1000+ like it is something amazing. Here in Buffalo NY the Buffalo Gun Store on Harlem Ave does this. They always have 2 or 3 there and their pricing on the old 99's is laughable and nowhere near real-world pricing. Cabela's opened a new store here recently. I go there often just to look for new arrivals. They have a 99 that somebody sawed the top of the cheek-piece off, and added wood so that it is very high and functions for a scope better. Now why the guy who did the work did a nice job, the gun is ruined. It looks very odd and the modification is so obvious. None the less, Cabela's has this gun for sale for $1,200. Then right next to it there was a nice little 99 in .303 that was almost perfect, made in 1919. I purchased it for $750. Not sure what they are thinking when they value these old 99's but glad they are not on top of their game sometimes.

I can actually understand a display only table.. Brings like minded people over to talk, folks with a gun of that type at home will talk about it (and occasionally sell), and it gets you in the show early to buy from other dealers. Basically, it's a buyer's ploy. I've thought about doing it locally.

The dealers with display only tables are almost always located near the entrance to the show....first shot at anything that walks in.

Yeah, there is that I guess. Guess maybe I got it wrong in that I always thought that if you went to the trouble to get an FFL and have a storefront dealership your priority would be to sell rather than buy. Given the winnowing out of FFLs during the clinton years I'm one of the few FFL in my area that isn't a storefront dealer. I'll handle your transfers and order a firearm for you if I can but I work out of my reloading room. If you're going to make the investment required to have a store, again, my thought would be that you're intent would be to sell rather than buy. Guess I missed something in economics 101.

As all of you regulars know I display my 99's at collector's shows. This has resulted in a lot of people bringing 99's in to sell to me. I go to non-collector shows to buy but it had never occurred to me to display at these shows. Hmmmmm

I walked into the Novi Antique Arms show once apon a time with a Ballard rifle, from the back then New ballard Co. Rifle was about 2 years old in 44-77, had decided to get into the 99s and out of the Black powder guns. 2 of the big Scam, I mean dealer jumped on me 10ft. into the door, let one guy hold the rifle to look at it they both wanted a price so I said 2K the guy Not holding the rifle shoved 2K in 100 dollar bills into my hand and said sold. fine with me. they were real close to a fist fight, started screming and yelling at each other, course security came over the guy running the show came over. it was a mess, as the guy holding the rifle said it was his but he was trying to dicker me down , LOW ball, Never said Ill take it. so the Dealer that gave me the 2K gets the rifle, im walking away and he say hey this is a newer gun , I said that I never said that is wasnt! I looked about new, not a 100 years old. I just kept walking. both dealers were mad at me and iv never done sales or bought from them ever again. Even tho when I brought My Shilo Sharps in a bit later the Low Ball guy asked to see it, I smiled and said NO!

Now THAT'S the way to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A clear instance of greed clouding their judgement. I love it!

The gun was still worth 2K I had 1600 something into it, I also had the dies brass ect in the Jeep that I fig id let go with the Ballard, but not after that sold them later. but wish I still had the gun. was neat, took a nice Black Bear with it up in Canda.

Guns America (910585847) auction for a 99 in 303 British ( 7.7 X 56 MM

It must have been made after WWI. The Montreal Home Guard wanted their rifles in 303 British but settled for 303 Savage because the development costs would have increased the price of the rifle and development time would have delayed delivery. If this rifle had been produced before WWI the development costs and time would have been already done. Wonder what the serial number is? Wildwood is too experienced to put down the wrong caliber?

They wrote down the wrong cartridge, it's 303 Savage.

A beginners mistake ?

Could be an honest mistake entering it into the gunsamerica site that probably has 303 British as a cartridge choice on a dropdown box but not 303 Savage. Or somebody had a brain fart.

I know I've ran into multiple Savages listed as 303 British at gun shops and every one was a 303 Savage. Local Cabela's even had a tag written up that way that I had them fix.

IIRC that gun is an early G.

No way it's 303 British.

Very true but as far as I know you're not a store front FFL. Thus apples to oranges. I'm sure that displaying 99s promotes having 99s brought to your table and more power to you for that.

Minichamp,

Ain't no way a 303 British would ever fit any M99 action. Even the reworked action to accommodate the Winchester .308 family of cartridges would be way to short.

The part of my comment about the rifle actually being 303 British was tongue in cheek. The part about the reasoning behind not chambering the MHG musket in 303 British is the data I have at this time. It probably would have required lengthening the action like Savage did on the 30-06 prototype which would have been cost prohibitive no to mention too time consuming with a war going on.